Scarlett Johansson: Anywhere I Lay My Head : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The girl's got indie cred, no doubt. Lost in Translation wrapped her in a dynamite alt-rock soundtrack, and she's sung with the Jesus and Mary Chain. So it makes sense that, for her debut, Scarlett Johansson takes on the indestructible songbook of indie totem Tom Waits. Produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, the experimental result finds her draped, sonically speaking, in costumes as ornate as those 16th-century period gowns she rocked in The Other Boleyn Girl. It's a reasonable strategy, since Johansson's voice is unremarkable and her pitch sometimes unsteady; she's a faintly goth Marilyn Monroe lost in a sonic fog. Sometimes that's fine: "I Wish I Was in New Orleans" is carried by a haunting music-box melody, "Fannin Street" has lush choral vocals bolstered by David Bowie, and "Song for Jo" (the set's sole original) sweeps the singer along in sound whorls recalling "Tomorrow Never Knows." But the synth-pop version of "I Don't Wanna Grow Up," famously covered by the Ramones, makes you wish Joey was still around to take the mike.

WILL HERMES

(Posted: May 29, 2008)

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Review 1 of 2

4of 5 Stars

This is an album that bears repeated listenings, and may in fact require them in order to get to the heart of things. Johansson's Nico-like voice is wrapped in beautiful sonics care of TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek, and the results are mostly extraordinary. The stand-out track, "Song For Jo" is a collaboration between Johannson and Sitek, and if it is any indication then a follow up album of originals would be something to look forward to. (The Rolling Stone review cryptically compares "Song For Jo" with "Tomorrow Never Knows", a comparison that leads me to believe that the reviewer has perhaps never listened to either song). Certainly, this is not an album for everyone, but if you are a fan of Mazzy Star, The Velvet Underground, or Tom Waits it is an excellent collection of hushed, mysterious songs.

Jul 12, 2008 19:02:15

Review 2 of 2

2of 5 Stars

It sounds like she can't hit the low notes and the instruments are trying to cover it up. I love Tom Waits but I'm bored about :13 seconds into the song...

May 28, 2008 17:18:32

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